Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-04-19
DOMESTIC SERVICE.
The Mayor OF New York City on the Wants
of Worlxing-Women.

of Worlsing-Women.
"Unquestionably," said Mr.. Hewitt,
"the women not only of this great city,
but of other great cities, are suffering
from the want of what seems to them
acceptable occupations, in the pursuit
of which they may earn livelihood.
There are comparatively few avenues
open to women for employment and all
but one of these is overcrowded. There
Is an unlimited field for them in do
nestle service. To my mind there is
nothing humiliating in that mode OF
earning living. On the contrary
there is nothing so well adapted to the
functions and characteristics of women
as occupations associated with tho
household and the family. ! do think,
however, that society is somewhat to
blame because OF the barriers it has
erected in the home against domestic
servants. 1t would, in my opinion, be
very fortunate thing indeed If the
old-fashioned relationship between en-
ployer and employed in the family cir
Gle could be restored. / refer to tho
times when the servants of the house,
hold really formed part OF the family,
oftentimes sitting at the same table.
Why, at my mothers table, when
was a boy, the servant girl always sat
at the same table with the family. We
never felt or tried to make her feel that
we were any better than she was, and
she never set herself up in the belief
that she was any better than we were.
We paid her the wages she earned and
she gave us in return her work.
"What is wanted is an appeal to the
EMPLOYERS in the household to make
the condition OF the domestic servant
more tolerable and more attractive to
respectable girls. In this way both
will be benefited. A better class OF
girls would be attracted to this home
service, and the employers would be
sure to gain an advantage through
tho inevitable improvement in the
grade of servants seeking employ
ment, OF course what Is known as
fashionable society could notundertake
to establish basis of equality between
master and servant, or employer and
employed, within the social circle
That Is not to be expected where ordi-
nary common sense prevails. In this
country, where individual merit may
win the highest distinction and honors,
it is unnecessary to argue that point.
But what | have said applies to the
great mass of society the country over.
TO express my meaning more broadly,
| will say that | believe it possible for
| housekeepers, wherever they occupy
the position of employers, to render
their homes agreeable instead OF dlsa-
greeable to the girls and women in
their service. Of course the final aim,
and | may say the natural aim, OF
woman is marriage-to become n wife
and mother and as such the center OF
interest in her own family. But all
| women can not, or at any rate do not,
get married; yet even failing to do SO,
the true mission Of woman is still with
in the family, administering duties
pertaining to the household.
But continued Mr.. Hewitt, $50
long as there is such large body OF
women seeking occupation in other di'
rections, it is the duty of every intelli.
| gent citizen and every benevolent in.
StltullOn 10 40 itll tney can W uiOt u
facilities for their employment. The
Cooper Institute was founded for that
purpose, among other things, We be-
| gan with the Art School, which is an
immense success, and it has led TO the
establishment of similar institutions
all over the United States. Hundreds
of women are educated there every
year who get remunerative and con-
genial employment. We have added
biography and stenography and type
writing, and with admirable results.
But it is simply impossible for society
to absorb in this direction the great
surplus of women who must earn their
own livelihood. For these there re-
mains the unlimited resource of do
nestle employment for all who will
seek it. IN. Y. Times.